Zaanse Schans, a famous tourist destination in the Netherlands known for its windmills, has implemented a surprising new policy: charging an entrance fee. This village has always been a popular destination due to its unique and striking character. Previously, visitors were not charged any fees or fees, resulting in Zaanse Schans receiving around 2-3 million tourists each year.
The village council stated the reason for the visitor fee was that the number of visitors was too high for a small village with a population of only 100. Therefore, starting in mid-2025, all visitors from outside the area will be charged an entrance fee of €17.50 ($20.50; £15) in an attempt to control the number of visitors.
It is indeed very rare for a village community in the Netherlands to take such a step, especially since Zaanse Schans offers not only buildings but also a typical Dutch waterscape. Another reason cited is that visitors assume the village is uninhabited and are allowed to freely enter and exit homes.
Marieke Verweij, a village administrator, said, “Visitors often don’t know that people live here, so they go into people’s gardens, into people’s homes, urinate in their gardens, knock on doors, take photos, and use selfie sticks to peek inside. There’s absolutely no privacy.” The council plans to use the visitor fees to maintain the windmill and build new infrastructure, such as new toilets.
